US-Iran War Day 33 Updates: IRGC reportedly assumes govt control; Tehran’s continued attacks on the Gulf as the world watches West Asia

The Iran-Israel war entered its 33rd day on Wednesday with a fresh wave of attacks spanning Tehran, the Gulf and Lebanon, even as US President Donald Trump signalled that American military operations in Iran could end “very soon”.

Explosions were reported across Iran’s capital, drone strikes rattled key Gulf states, and Israel continued its campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, underscoring the widening regional footprint of the conflict.

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Markets in Asia reacted positively to Trump’s remarks about a possible de-escalation timeline, but developments on the ground reflected continued volatility, with civilian infrastructure, military targets and maritime assets all coming under attack.

Iran denies it seeks ceasefire

Iran denied US President Donald Trump's assertion that Tehran had asked for a ceasefire, state television reported, citing the foreign ministry.

"Trump's statements about Iran's request for a ceasefire are false and baseless," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei was quoted as saying.

Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guards insisted that the strategic strait of Hormuz will remain closed to the country's "enemies", as Trump said re-opening the Straits was one of his conditions for a ceasefire.

IEA Chief Birol warns on Middle East crisis

Global energy markets are under severe strain as disruptions in the Middle East intensify, with impacts now exceeding the combined severity of the oil shocks of the 1970s and the 2022 loss of Russian gas supplies, according to Fatih Birol, Executive director of the International Energy Agency.

“This crisis is worse than the two oil crises of the 1970s and the loss of russian gas in 2022 put together,” Birol said.

The assessment comes amid continued damage to energy infrastructure across the Middle East, where multiple facilities have been affected and operational capacity has been disrupted. “Some 40 key energy assets have been damaged in the Middle East,” he aded.

UK PM Keir Starmer says ‘this is not our war’

Keir Starmer on Wednesday said the United Kingdom would not be drawn into the ongoing conflict involving Iran, as he outlined diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and ensure energy security amid rising global concerns.

Addressing a press conference at Downing Street, Starmer stated, “Let me say once again, this is not our war. We will not be drawn into the conflict that is not in our national interests.” He emphasised that the government’s priority remains stabilising the situation in West Asia through diplomatic engagement.

The Prime Minister said the UK is working with international partners to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route disrupted by the ongoing hostilities. He noted that ensuring the free flow of oil and safeguarding maritime navigation is key to controlling domestic cost-of-living pressures.

Iran's Guards assume ‘de facto control’ of government

Tensions between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have plunged the presidency into a political deadlock, with the Guard effectively taking control of critical state functions, according to sources cited by Iran International.

The IRGC has reportedly blocked Pezeshkian’s appointments and decisions, including his recent effort to nominate a new intelligence minister. All proposed candidates, including Hossein Dehghan, were rejected under pressure from IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi, who insisted that, given ongoing wartime conditions, key leadership positions must be managed directly by the Guard.

Escalation across regions: Tehran, Gulf and Lebanon under fire

Iran’s capital came under renewed assault early Wednesday, with state broadcaster IRIB reporting explosions in multiple parts of Tehran, including the north, east and central districts. The strikes mark another escalation in a campaign that has increasingly targeted strategic and urban centres.

The conflict simultaneously spilled deeper into the Gulf. Kuwait reported that its international airport was hit by an Iranian drone strike that caused “a large fire” at fuel storage tanks. Bahrain said a business facility caught fire “as a result of the Iranian aggression”, while Saudi Arabia confirmed intercepting several drones.

• Maritime security risks also intensified, with a tanker struck in waters off Qatar, according to a British maritime agency, highlighting the vulnerability of global shipping routes amid the conflict.
• In Lebanon, Israeli strikes continued with deadly consequences. Explosions rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs, where at least seven people were killed and dozens wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The Israeli military said it had targeted a “senior Hezbollah commander” and another high-ranking member of the Iran-backed group.
• Separate strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least eight people a day earlier, including a paramedic. Attacks in Tyre, Sidon and Bint Jbeil districts hit civilian and rescue-linked locations, further raising the humanitarian toll.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear the campaign would continue, declaring in a televised statement: “The campaign is not over… We will continue to crush the terror regime.”

Diplomatic signals, global reactions and economic ripple effects

Even as hostilities intensified, diplomatic messaging suggested potential openings for de-escalation. Trump announced he would address the nation to provide an “important update on Iran,” while indicating US forces could wrap up operations within “two to three weeks”.

“All I have to do is leave Iran, and we'll be doing that very soon, and they'll come tumbling down,” Trump said when asked about rising fuel prices linked to the war.

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran had the “necessary will” to end the war, but stressed the need for guarantees to prevent future flare-ups. His remarks came after intense strikes on Iranian territory and amid warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of retaliation, including threats targeting major US tech firms.
• Global reactions reflected concern over both legality and economic fallout. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Israel’s military actions in Lebanon as an “illegal invasion” that violates sovereignty.
  
  Meanwhile, the European Union urged member states to curb fuel consumption as energy prices surged due to disruptions linked to the conflict. Oil price volatility has become a central concern as attacks extend to critical infrastructure and shipping lanes.
• Financial markets showed tentative optimism. Asian equities rallied, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumping 4%, and gains also recorded across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul, driven by hopes of a potential US exit from the conflict.

Human impact and security concerns widen

Beyond the battlefield, the war’s human and security dimensions continued to expand. The United States confirmed that an American journalist, Shelly Kittleson, had been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed armed group. The State Department said it had previously warned her of security risks and was working to secure her release “as soon as possible”.

Religious and moral appeals for peace also emerged. Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that Trump would seek an end to the war, saying: “Hopefully he's looking for an offramp, hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing.”

Also read:'More than 4,000 targets hit, over 10,000 terror components struck': Israel Defence Forces claims targets struck in Iran

Key developments at a glance

• Explosions reported across multiple districts of Tehran amid continued strikes
• Iranian drone attacks hit Kuwait airport fuel tanks; fires reported in Bahrain and drones intercepted by Saudi Arabia
• Tanker struck off Qatar, raising maritime security concerns
• Israeli strikes kill at least seven in Beirut and eight in southern Lebanon
• Netanyahu vows to “continue to crush the terror regime”
• Trump signals US operations in Iran may end “very soon”, plans national address
• Iran says it has “necessary will” to end war but seeks guarantees
• American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Baghdad
• Canada calls Israel’s actions in Lebanon an “illegal invasion”
• EU urges fuel demand cuts amid rising energy prices
• Asian markets rally on hopes of de-escalation